Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-23
A VISIT TO ALABAMA.
SOMETHING ABOUT CHATTA-
HOOCHEE NAVIGATORS.

old Co,umbla-The Crawford House
Iocation of the TowD-No Failure OF
Crops-A Productive Soil - Small
rarmers-A White Maps Country-A
nuaI Capital-An IMPORTANT Trade
ceptre-COtton Receipts-A Live Place
Guano Sales-Statistics-Mer Mercantile
Firms-An Old Justice of the Peace
All Subscribers TO the "MoruiDg
News~ - COLUMBIA Enterprise" - A
Magnificent Water POwer-One Hun
dr4d Feet Fsn-Columbia's Great
Need - The Btakely Extension -"
Wide-Awake People.
The name "Old Columbia" has stuck
like the "shirt of Nessus" to the Alaba-
ma town that bears the name of the dis
coverer of America, albeit for some years
II has shaken of the glamour and rust OF
antiquity, and stands forth one OF the
iiyest. freshest, most enterprising and
Aonrishing little cities in the South.
The writer, after successfully battling
with London fogs, brisUlIng snags, tre-
meudous freights dispensed in detail at
innumerab!e LANDINGS" and all the other
vicissitudes Of
RIVER NAVIGATION,
arrived safelyion spring-iike morning at
the lofty bluff upon which at the distance
NJ about one mile is perched Columbia.
Once on shore we were greeted by mine
host of the Crawford House, and pro-
nelled bv spanking team from the livery
stable of Messrs. Mama 81 Knowles
were driven quickly to his pleasant hos
telry.
And here, once for all, your correspon-
dent would indorse this establishment
with its genial proprietor and his amiable
wife and accomplished daughters, who
leave nothing undone for the comfort and
Entertainment OF their guests. "Quail on
t0ast.u or cooked otherwise, chick
ems, eggs, good beef and
the incest pastry are duly served
in their turn, and the boarders feel
Donored by the personal attendance of the
ladies'. In this connection it should be
said the place needs new and more COM
modlous MOTEL, with honest Mr.. Crawford
and his family at the head of 1t. The
prosperity of town is estimated by the
quality and capacity of its hotel facili-
ties.
Columbia is located upon an elevated
plain at least 100 feet above the river, and
in the very heart Of one of the most de-
srabe aud fertile portions of Alabama.
One striking popularity of this section is
especially noteworthy. Here there is
never any
TOTAL FAILURE OF THE CROPS.
The past year the yield of corn and cot
ton has been full average, and not since
the memorable drought of 1874 has the
earth failed generously to reward the
labor OF the husbandman. Caterpillars,
so destructive Oh the black prairie lands
of the State, seldom do much damage
here.
The soil ls friable loan upon a basis
4 OF clay, which crops outsin some places
to the surface, and while naturally fertile
responds most wonderfully to the appli-
cation of commercial stimulants. In q
ride through the vicinity the writer saw
the cotton weed in large fields fully
SIX FEET HIGH,
and the surface was nearly as level as a
billiard table. This belt of country ex-
tends fully 80 miles into the interior, and
is thickly populated by thrifty small farm
ers (white), who. for the most part, culti-
yate their own crops and do their trading
with the merchants of Columbia. The
negroes are few in number, and the men
are usually employed in loading and I'M
loading the numerous steamboat and
supplying them with wood. To great
extent it lisa
WHITE MANS COUNTRY.
and every one seems to be making liv-
ing.
Columbia was first settled in 1915 by
JOslan Cothron, who entered the land uOon
which it stands. For many years it
merely existed as an Insignificant village,
SO isolated as almost to be unknown to
the outer world.
In those days the broad acres now in
such request and constantly appreciat-
my IN value might have been purchased
for mere trife.
The town was not Incorporated and
regularly laid out until after the late civil
war;
HALF CENTURY AGO,
however, 1t enjoyed the honor OF being
lhe county site of Henry, and when to
accommodate the increasing population
Ile court house and archives were re-
moved TO A0beville by special agreement
continued to remain as it were dual
ap'tal, the sem-annual sessions of the
superior Court alternating between the
two places.
AS trade centre Columbia IS now one
the most important points between
tulaula and .ApalachicoIa. To prove
MS assertion 1t is only necessary to say
lat her cotton receipts nave steadily in
Ieaseo az the rate of 80 per cent. per an
each '" "iii
$1,000 BALES
ne present season. Every bale is mar
e'eu mere and in the language OF prom
reuC cltlzen the town does business
nough 10 support thrice the population.
other words, the merchants are thriv-
x ana contented, and the amount OF
usle ana activity observable on the
ieets at once challenges the attention of
LAST LAST week In single day $50 country
"Sons came into town, each leaving ira
UI1cun Oh cash to enrich the tilIs of the
oers' Ihey come all the way from a
stance al 60 miles, bringing in hides
on, potatoes and other farm produce
@Sklhg back loads OF provisions, mer,
auuise and guano. or the latter no less
Pint. ''ilou'eu AZ tDls
STATISTICS.
iIe to"n contains over a thousand In.
bo .SSn.s, one hourlshing white public
n jIi ior boys and girls, numbering leo
pIh'' under the charge OF Prof. N. s,
l'a, assisted by j. NJ. Quarles, and two
~. private schools, five churches 1.-TWO
81 ! Six lawyers, five physicians.
painlng and grist mill. one stean,
ton v,o one oank, three hotels and seven